For my last challenge of 2013, I will partake in the Classics Double Challenge hosted by One's Librarian Book Reviews. The object of this challenge is to read a classic (the term is used loosely to include fairy tales, mythologies, classics, any kind of original story) and couple it with a retelling (the original and the newer book have to relate in some way that you can
define; it doesn't have to be a straight-forward retelling).

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Jane by April Lindner.
Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre, set in a modern day.

If you need some
inspiration for retellings, the hostess hascompiled a rather extensive list of retellings. and forfairy tale retellings. Also, during the Retell Me a Story celebration next month the hostesswill be highlighting some newer retellings that have been released or are coming out soon.

The goal is to read 150 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

Allowed are: Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts. What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible and comic books.

No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

Challenge begins January 1st, 2013 thru December 31, 2013. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

When you sign up under Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

Books Read in 2013

italics = Reviewed

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (Hybrid Trilogy #1) (YA)

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (Children)

While He Was Away by Katie Schreck (YA)

Every Day by David Levithan (YA)

The Cove by Ron Rash (Adult)

The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger (Adult)

UnWholly (Unwind #2) by Neal Shusterman (YA)

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress (YA)

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Adult)

Stray (Werecats #1) by Rachel Vincent (Adult)

Curses! Foiled Again! by Jane Yolen (YA/Graphic Novel)

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo (Children/Picture Book)

Sleep like a tiger by Mary Logue (Children/Picture Book)

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (Children/Picture Book)

Extra Yarn by Marc Burnett (Children/Picture Book)

Hansel and Gretel by Anthony Browne (Children/Picture Book)

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon (Adult)

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (YA)

Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton (YA)

Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher (Adult)

Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand (YA)

Six Days Earlier by David Levithan (YA)

Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1) by Kate Brian (YA)

Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6) by Chloe Neill (Adult)

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (YA)

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand (Adult)

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor (YA)

Vampire Knight Vol. 16 by Matsuri Hino (Manga)

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt (YA)

Fool Moon (Dreseden Files #2) by Jim Butcher (Adult)

Scent of Magic (Avry #2) by Maria V. Snyder (Adult)

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Adult)

Sapphire Blue (Red Ruby Trilogy #2) by Kerstin Gier (YA)

The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeymay (YA)

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally (Hundred Oaks #3) (YA)

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane (Downside #1) (Adult)

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter (Heist Society #3) (YA)

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo *Review coming soon

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2) (YA)

Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos by R. L. Lafevers (Childrens)

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger (Finishing School #1) (YA)

Snowy White World to Save by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)

I'll Follow the Moon by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)

Gwynee fair and shining by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)

The Library Mouse by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Childrens)

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (Infernal Devices #3) (YA)

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Adult)

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale (Adult)

Amelia Rules! When the Past is the Present by Jim Gownley Childrens/GN)

I was thrilled to complete this challenge last year and it helped me organize my reads much more efficiently. I hope the 2013 Ebook Challenge hosted by Workaday Reads will give me the same results!

Challenge Guidelines:

This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013.

Anyone
can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog,
feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book
site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc.).

Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.

You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.

When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.

You can move up levels, but no moving down.

Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

Floppy disk - 5 ebooks

CD - 10 ebooks

DVD - 25 ebooks

Memory stick - 50 ebooks

Hard drive - 75 ebooks

Server - 100 ebooks

Human brain - 150 ebooks

At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you
to add your reviews for that month. The linky will remain open for the
remainder of the year, so if you forget, feel free go back and add them
when you remember.
There will be a giveaway at the end of the year for everyone who achieves their goal level (or higher).

Graphic Novel: Dramaby Raina Telgemeier *Review coming soon

Book(s) You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I started the year on a rocky start. I've had several books that left me wanting and really disappointed me. The most memorable are:

Vampire Academyby Richelle Mead- My biggest disappointment of the year. It eventually lead me to a reading slump for a few months.

City of Lost Soulsby Cassandra Clare- In my opinion, the worst book in the MI series thus far. I skimmed large chunks of it.

Fractureby Megan Miranda- I was completely misled by the marketing of this book.

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- Ithink it's one of those few books that would be better as a movie.

Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

Stormby Brigid Kemmerer- A great paranormal series that I think could easily be enjoyed by both girls and guys.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry- Ireally thought this book would not be for me. It was filled with issues and a cliched romance, but the realistic characters won me over and I got sucked into the book. I finished it in a couple of days.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer- I really wasn't sure how a science fiction fairy tale retelling would work, but this book went beyond my eexpectations. Really looking forward to reading its sequel.

Best series you discovered in 2012?

Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones, Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Everneath series by Brodi Ashton, and Elementals series by Brigid Kemmerer, Agency series by Y.S. Lee, Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I'm not a big horror fan or books that feature serial killers, but I was absolutely enthralled byI Hunt Killersby Barry Lyga.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

I actually have two:

Book that I wished had more spotlight in the YA realm: Shadows on the Moonby Zoe Marriott- a very unique retelling of Cinderellafeaturing a very strong female protagonist.

Book(s) you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read: I have series not books that I can't believe I waited so long to read: The Lionness Quartet by Tamora Pierce and Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones.

Book(s) That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?

I've had several moments that had me reeling while reading the manga seriesNanaby Ai Yawaza and I absolutely had to talk to someone about Gone Girlby Gillian Flynn when I finished it. Really excited to see what my bookclub thinks about the book.

Books You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

I have lots of books that have appeared on other blogger's and best of lists from review journals that I read that I wish I had read, but unfortunatelyI ran out of time but these are my top priorities for 2013: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor, Everyday by David Levithan, The Diviners by Libba Bray, and Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater are just a few that I can think of on the top of my head.

I recently read a slew of Middle Eastern books on a variety of topics. I like how this reading challenge pushes me to read about countries that are beyond the U.S. and Europe. I hope to continue to read from a broader spectrum next year.

Description: Samir, a Palestinian boy, is sent for surgery to an Israeli hospital
where he has two otherworldly experiences, making friends with an
Israeli boy, Yonatan, and playing a computer game together about a trip
to Mars, during which Samir finds peace about his brother's death in the
war.

Review: Samir and Yonatan is a compelling read. It is written by an Israeli author who writes about the budding friendship between two boys, a Palestinian and an Israeli. There are no definite sides of right and wrong given to the Palestianian-Israeli conflict. In fact most of the plot takes place in a some what neutral territory of a hospital in Israel. The author strives and succeeds in showing how not all people from both sides of the border are evil and that tolerance can be achieved. Though not the best written book, I really enjoyed the message and recommend it for younger readers.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some war disturbing images as well as scenes where tweens are experimenting with cigarettes. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valérie Zenatti, Enemy Territory by Sharon E. McKay

Description:Living in the midst of civil war in
Beirut, Lebanon, Zeina and her brother face an evening of apprehension
when their parents do not return from a visit to the other side of the
city.

Review: Game for Swallows gives us a look into one ordinary day of war torn Lebanon in the 1980s.
Zeina and her little brother are waiting in the foyer of their
apartment for their parents to return from visiting their grandmother in
West Beirut. Bombings and sniper fire intensify in their neighborhood,
and their neighbors huddle with them in what is the safest location of
their building. As the neighbors arrive, Zeina gives us back stories of her neighbors and how the war has touched their lives. As the shootings and bombings continue, many neighbors are planning contingency plans if their country's condition doesn't improve. While the drawings may remind some readers of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (which I highly recommend reading if you haven't already done so), I felt wanting more from the graphic novel. I would have liked more historical information in order to really feel all the emotions that the characters feel throughout the story. I also wanted to know more about these people too.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There are some war disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman and David Polonsky

Description:Set in the aftermath of Iran's
fraudulent elections of 2009, Zahra's Paradise is the fictional story of
the search for Mehdi, a young protestor who has vanished into an
extrajudicial twilight zone. What's keeping his memory from being
obliterated is not the law. It is the grit and guts of his mother, who
refuses to surrender her son to fate, and the tenacity of his brother, a
blogger, who fuses tradition and technology to explore and explode the
void in which Mehdi has vanished.

Review: Zahra's Paradise was an eye opening reading experience. Part political criticism on the lack of citizen's rights to assemble and freedom of speech and part a harrowing struggle of a finding a loved one in the midst of chaos and riots of 2009. The
artwork on these pages is stunning, showing the machinations of the
corrupt government as well as traces of the beauty and poetry of Iranian
life. An array of diverse and carefully drawn characters help and
hinder the search for young Mehdi, everyone from a taxi driver to the
daughter of a former disgraced general, a print shop owner to shady
government officials. Small acts of heroism bring hope to this family,
but they also bring consequences. I was really surprised to find out that this story is fictional and not nonfiction, which I had expected it to be.I would recommend this graphic novel to those interested in Iran and the Middle East.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is language, nudity, sex, and scenes of implied rape. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Students for a Democratic Society by Harvey Pekar

Today I'm wrapping up my Death by Gaslight reading challenge. This challenge has allowed to discover new a sub-genre of historical mysteries that I haven't ventured before in my reads. Through this challenge I discovered some wonderful series and great authors. Today I have mini-reviews of the second and third book of the highly entertaining Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander as well as Two Crafty Criminals, a middle grade book, by Philip Pullman.

Description: London's social season is in full swing, and Victorian aristocracy is
atwitter over a certain gentleman who claims to be the direct descendant
of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Adding to their fascination with all
things French, an audacious cat burglar is systematically stealing
valuable items that once belonged to the ill--fated queen. But things
take a dark turn. The owner of one of the pilfered treasures is found
murdered after the theft is reported in the newspapers, and the
mysterious thief develops a twisted obsession with Lady Emily Ashton. It
takes all of Lady Emily's wit and perseverance to unmask her stalker
and ferret out the murderer, while faced with a brewing scandal that
threatens both her reputation and her romance with the dashing Colin
Hargreaves.

Review: Blending romance and historical mystery, the Lady Emily series is highly entertaining. Rich, young widow Lady Emily Ashton occasionally has
tea with the queen, but she isn't your conventional Victorian lady.
She may appear pretty and poised, but her preference for port and cigars,
her devotion to both popular novels and classic Greek literature, her involvement in solving the mystery of her
husband's death, and not to mention her flirtatious relationship with the debonaire Colin Hargreaves have made her the subject
of plenty of gossip. Her forthright opinions stir up trouble and raises eyebrows once again
when she becomes curious about the theft of several items once owned by
Marie Antoinette and a new "gentleman" on the social scene, who
claims to be an heir to the throne of France. Though Lady Emily is far from realistic, I adore her tenacity, wit, and charm. Alexander's witty
treatment of the trivial pursuits of the aristocracy made me chuckle in several occasions. The mystery is engaging and had me guessing throughout the entire book. I also absolutely loved the banter and romance between Emily and
handsome Colin Hargreaves. Readers looking for a light mystery with a good dose of romance should definitely try this series out.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: The book is relatively clean, however, there are mentions of the philandering Mr. Charles Berry. Recommended to teens and adults who enjoy historical mysteries.

If you like this book try: Fatal Waltz (Lady Emily #3) by Tasha Alexander, Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourne, Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson, Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry

Description: When her friend's husband is wrongfully accused of murder, Lady Emily
searches for answers from London's glittering ballrooms to Vienna's
sordid alleys.

Review: Lady Emily Ashton is back in her third episode of romantic suspense set
in the Victorian world of mannerly gentlemen, conniving mothers, and
scandals behind closed doors. Out of the three books I've read from this series so far, I felt A Fatal Waltz was much stronger. The murder mystery is much more serious as it could lead to the death of two highly important characters, including Lady Emily's love interest. In the last two books, we have seen Lady Emily be very confident in her skills but she is now constantly tested in this book as she meets Colin's past love interest and skillful partner, the worldly Kristiana von Lange. It was nice to see Emily's vulnerabilities shine through as well as travel to Vienna for some excitement. This is a
captivating addition to this fun series and I really can't wait to see if Lady Emily and Colin take the next step in their relationship.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: The book is relatively clean, however, there are mentions of the aristocrats who have an open marriage. Recommended to teens and adults who enjoy historical mysteries.

If you like this book try: Tears of Pearl (Lady Emily #4) by Tasha Alexander, Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourne, Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson, Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry

Description: Eleven-year-old Benny Kaminsky leads a rag-tag gang of neighborhood
children as they use improbable disguises and crazy ruses while
investigating such crimes as counterfeiting and stolen silver in 1894
London.

Review: Originally published as two separate stories in Britain, Two Crafty Criminals gives us two stories featuring the New Cut Gang, a group of young mischief-makers, rules the streets of
late-19th-century London and solves mysteries. In the first case,
"Thunderbolt" Dobney and the rest of the gang investigate a coin
counterfeiting resurgence. Things get more serious when Thunderbolt's
father is arrested, and it is up to the kids to clear his name and find
the real criminal. The second story has them finding the crook who stole
the gas-fitter's silver. This case intersects at many points with some
of the more impish members' attempts to win a bet by setting up two of
their neighbors. These two stories reminded me a lot of the old Scooby Doo cartoons. They are charming, fun, light, and wholesome. The focus is more on plot rather than character development. This would be a good choice for a classroom read-aloud.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 3 and up.

If you like this book try: Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding, Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger

Happy Holidays, readers! I hope you are enjoying the holidays with friends and family. In these last few days of December, I'm trying to wrap up some of my remaining reading challenges. I'm almost half way done! The Thirteenth Tale wraps up my Alex Award reading challenge this year.

Description: Margaret Lea works in her father's antiquarian bookshop where her
fascination for the biographies of the long-dead has led her to write
them herself. She gets a letter from one of the most famous authors of
the day, the mysterious Vida Winter, whose popularity as a writer has
been in no way diminished by her reclusiveness. Until now, Vida has
toyed with journalists who interview her, creating outlandish life
histories for herself - all of them invention. Now she is old and
ailing, and at last she wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary
life. Her letter to Margaret is a summons.Somewhat anxiously, the
equally reclusive Margaret travels to Yorkshire to meet her subject -
and Vida starts to tell her tale. It is one of Gothic strangeness
featuring the March family; her mother, the beautiful and willful
Isabelle, who had a powerful hold on her father and brother, and the
feral twins Adeline and Emmeline.Margaret, herself a twin, is doubly
intrigued. But as a biographer she deals in fact not fiction, and she
doesn't entirely trust Vida's account. She goes to check up on the
family, visit their old home and piece together the story in her own
way. What she discovers on her journey to the truth is for Margaret a
chilling experience that will transform her life.

Review: The Thirteenth Tale pays homage to the great Gothic writers, particularly Charlotte Bronte and Daphne Du Maurier, while weaving a wholly original story of its own. The story at first seems very familiar as a plain girl gets wrapped up in a dark, haunted ruin
of a house, which guards family secrets that are not hers and that she
must discover at her peril. Along this bleak journey, she also learns secrets about her own family.
Margaret Lea is a London bookseller's
daughter and a bibliophile. An introvert, she has lived vicariously through the written world. Her world revolves around what knows through her books. Books are her solace, friends, and adventures she can safely go on without any dangers. She enjoys books where the truth is written out in black and white terms and where the unjust are punished in the end. She also has an interest in siblings and has written an obscure biography that suggests deep
understanding of siblings.
It is Margaret's fascination with siblings that attracts the attention of the famous and now aging author Vida Winter, who finally wishes to tell her own, long-hidden, life
story. Facing imminent death and feeling an unexplainable connection to
Margaret, Miss Winter begins to spin a haunting, suspenseful tale of an
old English estate, a devastating fire, twin girls, a governess, and a
ghost. As Margaret carefully records Vida's tale, she ponders her own
family secrets.The Thirteenth Tale immediately grabbed my attention right away. I felt a kinship with Margaret's love of books and I was swept away with the story that Ms. Winter spun. All throughout the story with a story, I wondered which bits were true. I had no problems distinguishing between the two narrators as their voices were so different, but the transition from one to the other felt smooth. I loved the connections with some of my favorite books, but I was delightfully surprised that the connections were not a complete retelling of the story but showed how books can touch our lives in so many different ways. The book's pace was steady and there were plenty of twists and cliffhangers that kept me turning the pages. I was sad when the story concluded, but I think it could be enjoyed even more the second time you read it. The Thirteenth Tale is truly a book lover's book that celebrates reading and storytelling.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There are hints of sex and incest in the book, but nothing graphic or explicit. Recommended for teens and adults only.

If you like this book try:The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

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I am a librarian at Maine East High School. The opinions and content of this blog are my own and are not that of my employer.
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